Marking its 18th founding anniversary, the Department of Marketing at Jagannath University (JnU) hosted a vibrant day-long celebration on Saturday (July 5, 2025), featuring a series of events aimed at inspiring students to embrace research and innovation as integral to modern marketing education.
The festivities began with a colourful rally and continued throughout the day with discussion sessions, cake cutting, fun games, debates, theatrical performances, award distribution and a lively cultural programme across various venues on campus.
Speaking as the chief guest at the discussion session, JnU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim underscored the need for innovative thinking to tackle future challenges and highlighted the social relevance of marketing education in an ever-changing world. “An alumni network not only strengthens the institution’s reputation but also plays a crucial role in providing career guidance and internship opportunities for fresh graduates,” he said.
Special guest Dr. Mohammad Bakhtiar Rana, founding chairman of the department and currently an Associate Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark, reflected on the department’s early days and stressed the critical role of research. Innovation is impossible without the integration of research and education. We must inspire our students to actively pursue research, he noted.
The discussion was chaired by Professor Dr. Imranul Haque, Chairman of the Department of Marketing. Other distinguished guests included the university’s Treasurer, Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin, and the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, Professor Dr. Muhammad Manzur Murshed Bhuiyan.
Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin, in her address, emphasised the urgency of adapting to digital transformation. With rapid technological advancement, consumer tastes and behaviour are evolving dramatically. Our students must gain a strong grasp of digital platforms and modern consumer dynamics, she said.
Faculty members Professor Dr. Md. Zakir Hossain and Professor Dr. Sheikh Rafiqul Islam also spoke at the event, offering their insights and encouragement to the students.
Adding corporate perspectives to the celebration, Syed Alamgir, CEO of Meghna Group of Industries, along with distinguished alumni Saif Muhammad Anwar, Sales and Admin Manager at Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh; Ashiqur Alam Khan, Founder and CEO of PriyoShop; and Arif, Team Leader at Walton Hi-Tech Industries shared valuable career guidance and personal success stories.
Their inspiring words motivated current students to prepare themselves to navigate the dynamic business landscape with skills rooted in both research and practical application.
The anniversary programme concluded with renewed commitments from faculty, alumni, and students to build a strong bridge between research and real-world marketing practice reinforcing the belief that true innovation flourishes only when education and research go hand in hand.
